The Afterword

Musings on the byways of popular culture

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This is Trippy

by 10 Comments

Haven’t been here for a while, but I LOVE this at the moment. Can’t imagine what it would be like to be a chemical enhanced yoof hearing this at a club… well I can really.

It comes off Daniel Avery’s latest album Song for Alpha. If you want a more Tangerine Dream trip, check out the official video to Slow Fade from the same album.

I just stumbled on DA’s stuff. Any of you Gurus out there got more recommendations for more nu-psychedelia?

RIP: Peter Wyngarde

by 12 Comments

“His agent and manager Thomas Bowington said: ‘He was one of the most unique, original and creative actors that I have ever seen.’”

Proof provided from his eponymous album.

Vincent Nguini RIP

by 4 Comments

Just found that this great Cameroonian guitarist has died. Paul Simon hooked up with him on Rhythm of the Saints. He was a stalwart of his band ever since. Here is a seasonal tribute.

Desert Island Disc

by 20 Comments

Bless your cotton socks, Kirsty but apparently the powers that be have decided only one LP is allowed on that island now. As the first castaway with the new rules I would be happy to hear If I could do it all over again, I’d do it over you” for the rest of my life. I have been told I can post one track to represent the whole album. Here you go:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fAGtTX4LSTs

what about you?

Theory: Bricameron

by 31 Comments

Either a Russian bot, or a experimental AI let loose by mad scientist to develop consciousness through exploring its environment. Picked wrong site. Discuss.

Kelvin Mckenzie

by 7 Comments

Has been suspended. The question though is: what the fuck was he thinking about when he wrote this piece? And why were subs and editors says “are you SURE you wanna say this about Liverpool and a sportsman playing for a football club from that town?” It just smacks of utter incompetence never mind personal animus he seems to show for Mersey side.

Jeez I don’t follow football and I am not a Scouser, but I desperately wanna contribute to the Total Eclipse of the Sun campaign.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/39603942

Unusual music outlets

by 49 Comments

Yesterday for, I think, the first time I went to Iceland..the shop I mean. I may have been in one of its outlets when it was called Bejam. Anyway, as I approached the cash out, I noted they were selling CDs, yes really an outlet that sells Frozen Gregg’s sausage rolls also sells modern beat music. Well lots of copies of only one CD actually. Which prompted me to think where is the the most unusual place you have bought music? It could be in a weird emporium or in a strange location. I am sure you Vinyl Anon members have stories to tell.

PS. If you are wondering what the CD is, I will let you guess. It ain’t that difficult. Answer in the first reply if you really can’t work it out.

Ikutaro Kakehashi AKA Mr Roland

by 16 Comments

Just checked, I am amazed there is no mention of the passing away of this guy on Sunday. He was the last of the music boffins and he has claims on so much of the tech that lit the fuse for the electronic music explosion. I guess his best known baby would be the TR-808 drum machine, ubiquitous in the 90s dance scene, but he also pretty much developed MIDI.

Anyway, in memorial of his genius, how about some choons that incorporate his Roland instruments. Here is one of the first tracks I heard that had the 808 on it. Didn’t know what it was at the time but I loved the sound.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xMjyzDZTPnc

The Business of Music

by 3 Comments

Just a bit of a heads up. This two part program BBC R4 was first broadcast last year. It was repeated on Monday and Tuesday. It is a very interesting analysis of the music biz’s (lack of) concerted response to the digitization and file sharing revolution. It has interviews with everyone from music executives, Napster guerillas, and members of Radiohead. Really recommended. The link is to the first ep.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b07752bx

There is such a thing as reincarnation

by 16 Comments

Who knew that Hepworth and Ellen were such globe trotters?

http://thewordmagazine.com/shop/

http://www.wordhanoi.com/print-editions-wordvietnam

And I thought they were agnostic rationalists?

http://www.antiochian.org/theword

Best Paul Simon Songs

by 92 Comments

I’m not agnostic when it comes to Paul Simon, I have always loved him.. I think Simon and Garfunkel’s Greatest Hits was the first album I bought with my own money. Ironically, he appeals across so many boundaries that he is slightly dismissed, All his albums have at least one good track. Here is my favorite, what’s yours?

Am I a music snob?

by 60 Comments

Dear Marge, I am writing to you because I think I may have a problem. I like to think I am open minded, inclusive and liberal guy. Why, some of my best friends have music collections that consist of Adele’s last album and Abba’s Greatest Hits, they even like Ed Sheeran.

And yet, yesterday while listening to the dancer Wayne McGregor’s very Afterword friendly choices on Desert Island Discs, he introduced one of his choices as”George Michael’s cover of the Roberta Flack song First Time I ever Saw Your Face“. No its not I mumbled to myself, and from that point onward he was dead to me.

Please can you help me: am I a music snob?

Best Song by Elton John?

by 70 Comments

I am agnostic on Elton John.

I grew up through his imperial phase when LPs like Goodbye Yellow Brick Road were carpet-bombing the international charts and the John-Taupin axis occupied the singles Top 10. However, facile stuff like the maudlin Daniel just irritated me. And why Taupin is supposed to be such a great lyric writer defeats me. BUT….

Like Queen, EJ has had some stonking highlights. My nomination for his best is this. What’s yours?

Magic Alex RIP

by 5 Comments

One of the more intriguing members of The Beatles floating world of artists and scammers died on Friday. I always thought he relationship with the Fab Four would form the basis of a good book, play, or film. Given that he was so litigious I guess that was going to happen in his lifetime.

Fascinating little video at the end of this Billboard obit.

http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/obituary/7655255/magic-alex-mardas-beatles-dead